After LSU blew out Arkansas last Saturday, many thought the Tigers might be rounding into the NCAA tournament team they were projected to be in preseason.

Then the Tigers visited Georgia Thursday and looked the part of an NIT team in a decisive 91-78 loss where LSU didn't look anything like a team that would be a factor in March, especially on defense.

A day earlier, a Tennessee team that can impress you with its productive, veteran big men and high-scoring senior Jordan McRae, had a chance to take a step toward March relevance, but instead suffered a crippling loss at short-handed Vanderbilt, 64-60.

At the end of the night Thursday, all four teams mentioned sat at 5-4 in the SEC, good enough for a fourth-place logjam of teams that, for now at least, don't look ready for prime time.

LSU coach Johnny Jones said as much, telling NOLA.com that "We're just not there yet." He added:

If we were there, you're able to have a heck of a game last
week and then bounce back and come on the road and make the necessary plays
early on and set the tone and win the basketball game. We didn't do that. We're
not there yet.

The question is, after Florida and Kentucky, is anybody in the SEC "there yet?"

The SEC enters the weekend with only two teams -- No. 4 Florida and No. 13 Kentucky -- in the RPI top 45. Missouri (46), Tennessee (49) and Ole Miss (57) are in the top 60.

Missouri (16-6, 4-5) and Tennessee (14-8, 5-4) had the non-conference resumes of potential NCAA teams, but have not had the consistency in conference stay at that level.

Meanwhile, third-place Ole Miss (15-7, 6-3), LSU (14-7, 5-4) and others needed a sustained run of success in conference play after less-than-compelling non-conference slates. LSU has not managed that yet. Ole Miss has, to an extent. While the Rebels are third place behind the two ranked teams, their best SEC win was over LSU, which is merely No. 61 in the RPI.

The lack of quality wins has Ole Miss at just No. 57 in RPI.

Who might make a move?

Who might make a move as a third NCAA tournament team as we start the second half of SEC play? Here are your likely candidates. These teams are the ones that might earn a berth without having to sweep the SEC tournament like Ole Miss did a season ago:

1. Missouri (16-6, 4-5)

RPI: 46

Outlook: The Tigers have chances to beat teams in the top half of the SEC standings with a home-and-home against Tennessee and a game at Ole Miss. The Tigers are done with Kentucky and Florida, meaning they can get hot while not having to beat anybody significantly better than they are on paper. The bad news is lacking Florida and Kentucky on the back half of the SEC schedule means no more chances at a top 20 RPI win.

2. Tennessee (14-8, 5-4)

RPI: 49

Outlook: The Vols have a good mix of games to make a run. Florida visits Knoxville on Tuesday and the home-and-home against Missouri is a good opportunity for an RPI boost. The Vols play five of nine at home and their experience with the older front like of Jarnell Stokes and Jeronne Maymon along with senior guard Jordan McRae give the Vols the savvy to make a charge.

Ole Miss guard Jarvis Summers teams with Marshall Henderson to give Ole Miss one of the the SEC's most explosive backcourt duos.

3. Ole Miss (15-7, 6-3)

RPI: 57

Outlook:Don't let the Rebels' third-place record fool you. When your best win is over an RPI No. 61 team (LSU), you have work to do. Ole Miss has its chances as Missouri, Florida and Kentucky all visit Tad Smith Coliseum. The bad news is, the Rebels' big men have seemed incapable of playing at a high enough level to win those kinds of games. The good news is the backcourt of Marshall Henderson and Jarvis Summers seems more than capable and the Rebels have the experience of last year's SEC tournament run to draw upon.

4. LSU (14-7, 5-4)

RPI: 61

Outlook: The Tigers have two great RPI chances with games against Florida and Kentucky. The bad news is, they are both on the road where the Tigers are just 1-3 in SEC play and 2-4 overall. LSU plays more road games (5) than home (4), so the Tigers must get veteran leadership from its backcourt of junior Anthony Hickey and senior Andre Stringer (who usually comes off the bench) to navigate hostile terrain.

5. Vanderbilt (13-8, 5-4)

RPI: 65

Outlook: The Commodores are the hot team of the moment with four straight wins despite playing with just seven scholarship players. The second half will be tough on Vandy, which has to go to Tennessee, Missouri and Ole Miss and hosts Florida. As the season starts to take a toll on the Commodores' small roster, that schedule seems hard to manage.

Game of the weekend

Missouri (16-6, 4-5) at Ole Miss (15-7, 6-3): We keep waiting to see that Missouri team that was ranked in the Top 25 through most of non-conference to show up for SEC play. This would be a good place to start.

The game will match up some of the SEC's most prolific backcourt scorers with Henderson (19.1 ppg) and Summers (17.5 ppg) going against Missouri's Jabari Brown (20.1 ppg) and Jordan Clarkson (18.7 ppg).

Other Saturday games

Alabama (9-13, 3-6) at AP No. 3 Florida (20-2, 9-0): Highly-touted freshman Chris Walker played seven minutes in his Florida debut in the Gators' 68-58 win over Missouri Tuesday. This should be a game where he is able to get more developmental minutes against a Tide team reeling with three straight losses and five losses in the last six games.

No. 18 Kentucky (17-5, 7-2) at Mississippi State (13-9, 3-6): The back half of the SEC schedule is pretty soft for the Wildcats outside of a home-and-home with Florida. The question is, can a freshman-dominated team stay focused on the road? The Cats have already slipped up at Arkansas and LSU.

South Carolina (8-14, 1-8) at Tennessee (14-8, 5-4): Coming off the Vandy loss, it's worth noting that the Volunteers have not lost two straight, nor won more than two straight, in SEC play. On paper they should be able to start a winning streak here.

Arkansas (14-8, 3-6) at Vanderbilt (13-8, 5-4): Vandy is the hottest team in the SEC not called Florida or Kentucky, but one has to wonder how long the iron Commodores can hold up. It's become routine for Vandy to have players go all 40 minutes. Can the up-tempo Razorbacks, who have 11 players who average double-figure minutes per game, wear Vandy down?

Auburn (11-9, 3-6) at LSU (14-7, 5-4): This is a scary game for LSU. Led by high-scoring Chris Denson (19.8 ppg) and K.T. Harrell (19.5 ppg), Auburn has reeled off three straight wins since an 0-6 SEC start. Can AU keep the streak alive in Baton Rouge?

Texas A&M (13-9, 4-5) at Georgia (11-10, 5-4): Both teams got off to hot SEC starts, slumped, and have recently bounced back with wins. Georgia broke a three-game losing streak against LSU while the Aggies snapped a five-game skid Wednesday against Mississippi State.